Machine for removing scrap parts from gaps



April 12, 1966 D. o. TAYLQR MACHINE FOR REMovING SCRAP PARTS FROM GAPs Filed Deo.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 12, 1966 D. o. TAYLOR 3,245,136

MACHINE FOR REMOVING SCRAP PARTS FROM GAPS Filed Deo. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,245,136 MACHINE FDR REMOVING SCRAP PARTS FROM GPS i Donald 0. Taylor, Waterbury, Conn., assigner to Scovrll Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 416,036 v Claims.` (Cl.- 29-209) This invention is a specialized machine lfor removing scrap parts from gaps in zipper strips. 4 `The zipper strip yfor which the invention is intended hasa-pair of tapes with interengaged fastening elements of the coil filament type atached thereto. The strip, prior to the operation of the present machine, has previously been provided with gaps atspaced intervals where the head portions of a plurality of the engaged coilYconvolutions have been cut away leaving a length of chain between such gaps which` will correspond to the length of zipper that is desired. This first operation leaves substantial scrap parts still attached to the tapes. These are called; the heel'v portions of the coils as distinguished from the head portions. `It will be understood that the strip is cut across the gaps making up individual zippers and if these heel portions are left in place, they will obviously be objectionablednk `the-.finished zipper. It is especially important that they be removedin fasteners which are to be equipped with separating bottom stops.

In accordance with the invention, the machine removes these scrap portions of the coils by a single direct movementof `a ycarriage along the strip while the strip is held Iin a definitejpOSitiQnwith'a blade extending into` the gap which has been previously cut. j I Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinaftermore fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I have lshownfor purposes of illustration, one embodiment which the invention mayassurne in practice. In these drawings:

FIG.` 1 illustratesv a portion. of, a continuouszipper strip for which the invention is adapted;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of themachine;

FIG. 3 isa frontelevation of the principal portions of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a right end elevation ofthe machine;

, FIG. Sis a detailed` cross-sectional on line 5 5 of FIG. 2;.`

FIG 6 is a detailed lengthwise section on line'6- 6 of FIG; A2; j i

FIG. 7 is a crosssection on line 7- -7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a detailed section-of the stripper finger turret unitftaken onglineS--S o f FIG 2;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view ofone of the turret and tool mountings;

FIG. 10 is a detailed section on line 10--10 ofl FIG. 2;

FIG.` lil-,is a diagrammatic view `illustrating the strippins action; and

FIG. l2 is aperspective view of the positioning blade.

The zipper strip, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and ll, has a pair of tapes T` with fastener, elements C o-f the coil lfilament type attached thereto.` The coils are interengaged by their head portions, except for.` gaps 11 at spaced intervals. Thesegapshave been previously formed .byl cutting away the head portions leaving the heel portions-12 as scrap firmly attached to the tapes where they are normally held by stitching S which` is partially indicatedinFIG.l1. l, r

The machinerestsupon a bed 13 in the formof an .elongated block of generally rectangular cross-section. This bed may be mounted for lengthwise adjustment upon arail 14 and the bed may be clamped to the rail in 'any adjusted position by hand-operated screws 15. The rail ice 14 may be carriedv by suitable support brackets 16 at either end The carriage, which includes the block 17, is mounted over the bed-for longitudinal sliding movement and for pivotal movementso that it can be lifted away from the bed to arrange the zipper strip. For this purpose, the carriage block 17 is securely fastened to a guide rod 18 as by means of a stud 19 which is seen in dotted lines in-FIG. 2. The guide rod can freely slide and rotate in a bearing block 20 which is rigidly secured to the bed by suitable bolts 21. This bearing block 20 also acts as a stop to limit movement of the carriage toward the left. Movement of the carriage in the other direction is limited by a stop block 22 which is rigidly held to the bed -13 bya screw 23. This screw extends through an elongated slot 24 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, so that the stop can be adjusted lengthwise of the bed. A recess shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 is for the purpose of accommodating the stud head 19. While the back portion of the carriage 17 is supported by the guide rod 18 in a cantilever fashion, the front portion rests uponA a narrow bearing surface 25 which is at a slightly higher level than the main portion of the bed 13 to provide a slot 26 for the tapes T of the zipper strip. When the carriage is in its closed` or operating position as shown in FIG. 7, itis held by a latch 27 fitting in a slot 28 in the carriage block and pivoted on a pin 29. It is normally held in latched position by a coil spring 30, and a stop pin 31 may be provided to prevent overtravel of the latch. The hook end 32 of the latch rides in a groove 334 in the bed 13 and to prevent excessive wear, a wear plate 34 may be provided.

On the carriage block 17 and in side-by-side relation are secured `the turretv mounting blocks 35 and 36 and they are adjustablyfastened by studs 37 and 3S passing through longitudinally extending slots 39 in the turret blocks. This adjustment can be accurately regulated by screws 40 'extending through the depending lugs 41 and into the carriage block 17, as seen'inFIG. 6.

At the forward endyof each of the mounting blocks 35 and 36 are the turrets 42' which are of like construction; one of them is shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9. Each turret 42 is a cylindrical shell fitting in a cylindrical recess 43 in the top face of the turret mounting block 35, angularly adjustable about a vertical axis and is held in an)7 desired adjusted position by a set screw 44. Each turret carries a tool holder in the form of a cylindrical post 45 which is adjusted vertically by a screw 46 having threaded engagement with the post 45, but not with the turret 42. The end of the screw 46 abuts against the bottom` of the recess 47 in the turret to determine the vertical position of the post whereupon it can be locked in such position by the locking screw 43 which'has threaded engagement with the turret, but not with the post and it will abut the bottom of a recess 49 in the post so as to lock it in the desired adjusted position. This particular detail is a known formv of tool adjustment and need not be further described.

The posts 45 carry the stripping lingers 50 and 51 which extend into drilled holes in the posts and may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly of the post and held by set screws, one of which is seen in FIG. 6 to 52. These fingers are mounted at an acute angle to the center line of the zipper strip; in other words, they project forwardly anddownwardly into the line of the heel portions 14. In this position, when they are moved by the carriage, they will hook into the heel portions 12 and pull them away from the tapes as represented in FIG. ll.

For the purpose of lifting the carriage when the latch 27 is released, and also for pulling the carriage along the bed, there is provided a suitable handle 53. It will also be noted, especially inFIG. 7, that the undersurfaceV of the carriage block 1'7 has a groove 54 with sloping side surfaces for snugly receiving the interengagin g coils C of the zipper strip. There may also be a groove S5 which, when the carriage is moved forward, can accommodate the positioning blade 56. This blade has a comparatively thicker and longer base portion 57 with a curved bottom edge which is secured in a suitable recess of the bed 13 by means of a screw 58, as seen in FIGS. 3 and l0.

The upper portion 59 of the positioning blade 56 is made to a predetermined length equal to the length of the gap where the head portions of the coils have been cut away. The blade 56 may be easily removed and replaced to accommodate gaps of different lengths.

Referring now to FIG. l0, the thickness of the upper portion 59 of the positioning blade 56 is at least as much as the normal spacing between the bottom legs 60 of the scrap portions i4, so as to position these scrap portions in a definite alignment. In the cutting operation, prior to the use of the present machine, the cutting blade will have left a somewhat wider gap between the upper portions of the scrap parts 14 and will have left the edges of the tapes T intact. When the zipper strip is placed over the positioning blade 56, there might be a tendency for the tape edges to crowd between the portions 60 of the scrap parts and the blade 56. This would interfere l with the accurate lateral positioning of the scrap parts preparatory to stripping. To avoid this, the bed 13 is slightly undercut or grooved on opposite sides of the blade 56 as indicated by the numeral 61.

In operation, the zipper strip may come from any suitable continuous source, such as a roll, or it may come directly from the machine which has cut away the head portions of the coils. ln any case, some means should be provided to create tension on the strip as it moves to the machine. For this purpose, I have indicated upper and lower rollers 62 and 63, respectively, which can grasp both of the tapes T. lf one or both of these rollers is controlled by a suitable friction clutch, it will obviously be necessary to place tension on the strip to pull it into the machine.

To place the strip in proper position for the stripping operation, the latch 27 is released from groove 33, the carriage swung upwardly while supported by the guide rod 18. This enables the operator to pass the projecting portion 59 of the positioning blade through a gap in the strip. Then the operator, making certain that the carriage block 17 is abutted against the stop 22, will swing the carriage down so that it bears on the surface and the latch Z7 will automatically snap into the groove 33. This will bring the pointed ends of the stripping fingers 5f) and 51 into stripping position where they will hook into the heel portions i4 which'constitute the scrap to be removed. Then the operator, grasping the handle 53, moves the carriage along the bed with the guide rod 18 sliding in the bearing 20, and the latch 27 sliding in the groove 33. This is a straight line action parallel to the direction of the strip so that the stripping fingers will pull the scrap portions 14 away from the stitches S where they may fall away or be removed by an air blast.

' The opposite sides of the zipper strip are firmly held against endwise movement during the stripping action by the blade 56,' the forward end of which as seen at 64, is abutted against the interengaged head portions at one end of the gap. lt will be understood also that in the stripping process, some tension may be applied to the lead end of the strip either manually or mechanically.

The stripping operation can be successfully performed only if the strippingfingers are accurateely positioned in various ways. It will be notedthat there is provided independent lengthwise adjustments by means of screws 40 between the mounting blocks 35- and 36 and the carriage block 1'7. Vertical adjustment of the tool holders in the mounting `blocks is provided by the screws 46 and 4S. Angular adjustment ofthe toolholders isper'- mitted by the cylindrical turret 42 and the cylindrical red cess 43 in each 'of the mounting blocks. Finally, endwise adjustment of each stripping finger 5t) relative to the tool holder, is accomplished by positioningit in the hole of the tool holder and anchoring the same by the screw 52.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described ernbraces a preferred embodiment of the same, it is to be understood that the construction may be `varied yas to mechanical details without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for removing scrapparts from a zipper strip which consists of a pair of' tapes having interengaged fastening elements of the coil filament type attached thereto with gaps provided at spaced intervals where the head portions of a plurality of coil convolutions are cut away leaving the heel portions as scrap parts attached to the tapes, the combination of (a) a supporting bed for the Zipper Stringer;

(b) a blade-like positioning member projecting upwardly from said bed and dirnensioned to fit snugly Vin one of said gaps;

(c) stripping fingers on opposite sides of said blade having pointed ends adapted to hook into said heel portions;

(d) means for rigidly mounting said fingers so that their pointed ends project into the line of said heel portions; and

(e) said mounting means being movable relative to said bed and biade in a direction lengthwise of the zipper strip to remove the scrap parts along said gaps l" 2. T-he combination defined in claim l, together with stop means to limit the relative movement betweensaid fingers and blade so that the pointed ends of said fingers move only over the length of a gap throughwhich said blade projects. v Y

3. In a machine for removing `scrap parts from a zipper strip which consists of a pair of tapes having interengaged fastening elements of the coil filament type attached-thereto with gaps provided at spaced intervals where the'head portions of a plurality of coil convolutions lare cut away leaving the heel portions as scrap parts attached to the tapes, the combination of (a) a supporting bed forthe zipper Stringer; I

(b) a blade-like positioning member projecting upwardly from said bed and dimensioned to fit snugly in one of said gaps; l A

(c) a carriage mounted on said bed for slidable movement lengthwise of said bed and said zipper strip; and v (d) stripping fingers rigidly mounted in said carriage, Vone on each' side -of saidblade, said fingers having pointed ends projecting between said heel portions and at an acute angle to the center line lof the zipper strip so as to hook into sai-d heel portions and remove them from the tapes upon rectilinear movement of said carriage.

4. In a machine for removing -scrap parts from a zipper strip vwhich consists of a pair of tapes having interengaged fastening elements of the coil filament type attached thereto with gaps provided at spaced intervals where the head portions of a plurality of coil convolutions are cut away leaving the heel portions as scrap parts attached to the tapes, the combination of (a) a supporting bed for the zipper Stringer;

(b) a blade-like positioning member projecting upwardly from said bed and dimensioned to fit snugly in one of said gaps;

(c) a carriage mounted on said bed for slidable movement lengthwise of said bed and said zipper strip;

(d) a pair of mounting blocks attached to said carriage and adjustable lengthwise of the zipper strip;

(e) a tool holder on each -of Asaid mounting blocks and adjustable vertically therein with respect to said zipper strips; and

5 6 (f) stripping fingers attached to said tool holders in References Cited by the Examiner such positions that the ends of said fingers extend be- UNITED STATES PATENTS tween said heel porti-ons. 5. The combination dened in claim 4 wherein said 384 4/1924 Fasclao 225%10455 tool holders lare also .adjustable angularly about a verti- 5 3 9 9 4/19 4 kunne s 20 cal :axis and wherein said stripping ngers are adjustable l y in said too] holders inwardly and outwardly of said heel WILLIAM W DYER IR" Pnmary Examiner portions. J. M. MEISTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR REMOVING SCRAP PARTS FROM A ZIPPER STRIP WHICH CONSISTS OF A PAIR OF TAPES HAVING IN TERENGAGED FASTENING ELEMENTS OF THE COIL FILAMENT TYPE ATTACHED THERETO WITH GAPS PROVIDED AT SPACED INTERVALS WHERE THE HEAD PORTIONS OF A PLURALITY OF COIL CONVOLUTIONS ARE CUT AWAY LEAVING THE HEEL PORTIONS AS SCRAP PARTS ATTACHED TO THE TAPES, THE COMBINATION OF (A) A SUPPORTING BED FOR THE ZIPPER STRINGER; (B) A BLADE-LIKE POSITIONING MEMBER PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BED AND DIMENSIONED TO FIT SNUGLY IN ONE OF SAID GAPS; (C) STRIPPING FINGERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BLADE HAVING POINTED ENDS ADAPTED TO HOOK INTO SAID HEEL PORTIONS; (D) MEANS FOR RIGIDLY MOUNTING SAID FINGERS SO THAT THEIR POINTED ENDS PROJECT INTO THE LINE OF SAID HEEL PORTIONS; AND (E) SAID MOUNTING MEANS BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID BED AND BLADE IN A DIRECTION LENGTHWISE OF THE ZIPPER STRIP TO REMOVE THE SCRAP PARTS ALONG SAID GAPS. 